The most iconic NBA Playoff buzzer-beaters in history!

NBA Playoff winning buzzer beaters are a rare occurrence in the NBA Playoffs, with only a small amount of them happening across the history of the NBA.

Despite the lack of buzzer-beaters down the stretch in playoff situations, when they do happen, the shot is remembered by fans for a lifetime.

The NBA Playoffs bring a whole new intensity, nothing like the regular season. Every possession means something, and the stakes are so much higher.

With the 2023 NBA Playoffs starting to get into full swing, let's reflect on some of the most incredible shots in NBA history.

Here are the most iconic playoff buzzer beaters in NBA history!

John Stockton, Karl Malone, and the Utah Jazz had failed to make an NBA Finals appearance until John Stockton's game-winner in the Western Conference Finals in 1997.

Stockton took the inbound pass, a few dribbles, and fired the ball from three-point range. From then, Michael Jordan and the Chicago Bulls were waiting, losing to them in two NBA Finals.

Michael Jordan's series-winning buzzer-beater against the Cleveland Cavaliers in 1989 was the first 'big shot' of Jordan's impressive career in the NBA.

Jordan's shot over Craig Ehlo was the start of a string of iconic Jordan moments in the playoffs, leading to six NBA Championships and six finals MVPs.

'Big Shot Rob' had a knack for coming up clutch throughout his whole NBA career, and none more so than his game-winning shot against the Sacramento Kings in the 2002 NBA Playoffs.

The Lakers were trailing the series 2-1, on the verge of going down 3-1 and staring at the barrel of elimination. Horry's shot brought the series level, and The Lakers went on to win the championship later in the playoffs, securing their only three-peat.

Since coming into the league in 2012, Damian Lillard has grown a reputation as one of the league's premiere shooters. His bucket against The Thunder in the first round of the 2019 playoffs is his most iconic.

After storming from an eight-point deficit and the score tied at 115-115, Lillard hit a 37-foot step-back three over Paul George, finishing the game with 50 and sending Oklahoma home.

The most iconic winning buzzer beater and the most incredible non-finals moment in NBA history was Kawhi Leonard's shot in Game 7 to send the Toronto Raptors to the NBA Eastern Conference Finals.

Leonard received the ball with five seconds left on the clock and was defended by Joel Embiid and Ben Simmons. The Raptors forward put up his shot just before the buzzer, and as the crowd watched the ball bounce around the rim, it finally fell through the net, winning the game for Toronto.

The significance of the shot can't be understated as the Toronto Raptors marched through to the NBA Finals, beating and ending the Kevin Durant and Golden State Warriors era.